Murphy, T. W. (2009). Life in rewind: The story of a young courageous man who persevered over OCD and the Harvard doctor who broke all the rules to help him, by Terry Weible Murphy, 2009. Memoir of Dr. Michael Jenike and his patient Edward Zine. Excellent descriptions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) rituals and their manifestation as hoarding. Helpful to the professional organizer in understanding the thought processes of OCD, which can sometimes lead to hoarding behaviors, and the strength of OCD’s hold on the client.

Overcoming compulsive hoarding, by Fugen Neziroglu, Jerome Bubrick and Jose Yaryura-Tobias, 2004. A book for people who hoard and their families which provides background on the phenomenon of hoarding and gives direction on how to address it, both as self-help and as family intervention. Helpful to professional organizers developing a general understanding of hoarding or a plan for assisting a specific client.

Compulsive hoarding and acquiring workbook, by Gail Steketee & Randy O. Frost, 2007. A self-help workbook for people who hoard. Useful for professional organizers to help clients articulate their specific challenges and to walk them through the change process. (Note: A companion guide was also published for therapists who provide clinical treatment for hoarding; see the Recommended Further Reading list.)

Buried in treasures: Help for compulsive acquiring, saving, and hoarding, by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, & Gail Steketee, 2007. Introduction to the phenomenon of hoarding for people who hoard and their families. Helpful to professional organizers in conceptualizing the problem of hoarding and ways to address it.

Digging out: Helping your loved one manage clutter, hoarding, and compulsive acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins, & Tamara L. Hartl, 2009. Introduction to the concept of harm reduction—the improvement and not necessarily elimination of a problem behavior—as it applies to hoarding. Helpful when working with the hoarding client’s family and with clients who are unable or unwilling to fully dismantle their hoard.

Complete an application for the Hoarding Specialist Certificate either online or mail with fees to ICD. The fee of $120.00 includes $15.00 nonrefundable application fee.

Please Note:

Teleclass credits are good for three (3) years

Teleclasses can be applied to a maximum of two (2) different certificates. However, the same teleclass cannot be applied to both the Level I Certificate of Study, as well as the Level II Specialist Certificate within the same subject area.